Electrical connector



Oct. 10, 1939. c. G. oLsoN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Nov. l2, 1936 Patented Oct. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,175,759 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Application November 1 2, 1936, Serial No. 110,524

2 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to an electrical connector alternatively known as an electrical terminal for use with an electrical conductor or the like.

It is an object of this invention to provide an 5 electrical connector of the type adapted to accommodate the end of an electrical cable and which will engage the cable and also a mating connector on an electrical device, wherein the said connector is provided with means clampingly l to make contact with the conductor.

A further object of this invention is to provide an electrical connector of the type having arms adapted to extend along the surface of an electrical conductor and expandingly engage a mating electricalterminal into which it is positioned, wherein the connector is provided with means to enclose the end of the conducting portion of the cable and cantingly resist withdrawal thereof.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent from a consideration of the following clples of the present invention and in which:

25 Figure 1 is a side elevation of a distributor cap showing the method of arrangement of the connectors associated therewith;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, sectional elevation taken on the line 2`2 of Figure 1;

30 Figure 3 is a side elevation of the connector cable assembly shown in Figure 2, the view being taken from a position 90 degrees removed;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a blank suitable for making the connector shown in Figure 2;

$5 Figure 5 is a sectional view of -a connector made in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the connector showing it assembled in operative relationship with the end of a cable; A

40 Figure 7. is a sectional view of the connector taken on a central plane transversely to the plane of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a top view of the connector;

Figure 9 is a bottom' view of the connector 45 shown in Figure 6;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary section showing an alternative embodiment; vand Figure 11 is a. bottom view of the connector shown in Figure 10.

50 'I'he present device is designed to be applied to the end of an electrical wire or cable for the purpose of making electrical contact between the conducting portion of said wire or cable and any The present embodiment is disclosed for illustrative purposes in connection with a distributor cap l0 (see Figure l) wherein spark plug wires tifcial or natural mouldable material having the requisite dielectric and insulating'qualities. The sleeves are formed on the lower portion of their 10 inner Walls with cup-shaped inserts i 8 of consleeves I6 and the remainder of the distributor 15 cap in the conventional manner. cup-shaped member i8 has a continuous outelectrical terminal.

stamped to the form shown in Figure 4, being provided with a central rectangular aperture 24 25 having longitudinally extending edges 25, and four radially extending arms 26 and 28, two of provided at their ends with narrow extensions 30 having pointed, arrow-shaped tips 30.

The blank is then stamped or otherwise formed into the shape shown in Figures 5 and 7, wherein the extending arms 26 and 28 are bent in a generally upward direction and are at the same time 35 curved in their upstanding plane to match the cylindrical external surface of the cable or wire with which the electrical'terminal is intended to be employed. The arms are, moreover, provided with depressed portions 32 and 34 across the sur- 40 face thereof to form a broken replica of an outside annular or circumferential bead. The botof the slot being adjacent 'the plane of the base portion of the terminal. The edges of the aperture 24 are extruded or deformed downwardly to form generally parallel wall portions which are at the same time relatively short. 50 The pointed or sharpened extensions. on

arms 28 are then bent inwardly, as shown in Figure 5, to form opposed barbs. The arms 26 and 28, and the latter in particular, are purposely bent to a position just short oi' vertical, as shown in 5| the figure, for the purpose of permitting the insertion therebetween of the insulated wire I2.

In use, the spark plug cable I2 is stripped of insulation for a short distance from the end leaving uncovered a short portion of the conductor 38, The end of the wire is then inserted between the arms 26 and 28 to a. point where the exposed portion of the conductor 38 extends through the aperture 24 and the end of the wire covering or insulation 40 is limited by abutment with the bottom of the connector. The arms 26 and 28 are then pressed inwardly until the pointed sections 38 engage and pierce the sides of the cable, as shown in Figure 9. At the same time, the downwardly projecting edges 25 of the aperture 24 may be squeezed together to securely and clampingly engagev the portion 38 of the conductor. If desired, the pointed portions 38 may be coincidentally forced into position, with the clamping of the edges 25 around the end of the wire 38 by means of a clamping tool adapted to perform both functions. Having thus affixed the terminal to the cable and provided electrical connection between the latter member may be inserted into the cupshaped connector I8, as shown in Figure 2, whereupon the curved beaded portions engage in the annular depression 22 formed in the member I8, and the natural resiliency of the metal will normally cause the beaded portions 32 to removably engage the said annular depression 22 resiliently with an outwardly directed force so that the terminal will be normally held in place but may be readily removed by a forceful pull of the cable.

The sides of the cup-shaped connector I8, however, will serve to restrain the arms in position adjacent the cylindrical surface of the electrical wire I2 and also maintain the barbs or pointed portions in engagement'with the insulating covering, thus effectively maintaining jointure of the wire and the terminal. -v

In the alternative embodiment shown in Figures and 1l, the connector is similarly formed from a metallic blank, the extending arms 42 and 43 being `bent upwardly and being formed with prongs or beads, as described above, to define a generally cylindrical `structure. The end portion 44 of the connector is generally flat and has an aperture 46 with opposed downwardly bent sides 48. In use, the wire cable is inserted and after positioning in the opening 48, the side walls prlslsed or pinched together in engagement therewi In the structures disclosed, the tip of the conductor engaged by the connector may be soldered thereto if desired. However, for most purposes the compressive engagement with the base portion of the connector described above will be sufficient to maintain it in position and to provide proper electric conductivity.

The connector will in engagement with of their 4inclination from the vertical. Thus, upon any unauthorized attempt to Withdraw the conductor 38 from the connector, the edges 25 or 48 would be forcefully drawn together and exert a strutting action, thus increasingly clampthe conductor and connector,

. conductor, said additionally be maintained the walls 25 or 48 by virtue ing the conductor in the position shown. If a metal of sullicient resiliency is employed, the opposed edges of the openings 25 or 46 may be formed so as normally to be separated by a distance less than the diameter of the conductor. Consequently, when assembling the connector with relationship to an electrical cable, the conductor is forced between the above edges spreading them apart asit enters. They will thus reelectrical contact with the conductor, mutual convergence causing them to grasp the conductor with greater vigor, upon the incidence of any force draw it therefrom.

It is thought that the invention and numerous of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of advantages, the form herein described being a preferred embodiment for the purpose of trating the invention.

Having thus described claimed as new and desired Letters Patent is as follows:`

1. In combination with an insulated electrical cable comprising a flexible stranded conductor, an electrical terminal connector of the plug type comprising a base for connection adjacent the end of the conductor, and opposed yieldable wall portions integrally extending erally in the direction of the end of the conductor and having clamping edges for clamping the conductor therebetween, said edges being engaged with the conductor and being yieldable toward the central axis of the conductor whereby to exert a strutting action against forces tending to withdraw the end of the conductor from the end of the connector, and a plurality of elongated arms extending generally transversely to the said base from points adjacent the edge thereof and adapted to clampingly accommodate therebetween the insulated end of said electric cable for retaining the plug connector in position thereon.

2. An electric terminal connector of the plug type for use in combination with insulated electrical cable comprising a connector comprising a base for connection adjacent the end of the conductor, and opposed yieldable wall portions integrally extending from the base generally in the direction of the end of the conductor said wall portions being yieldable toward each other to an inwardly inclined position and having clamping edges for clamping the conductor therebetween, said edges being engageable with the conductor and being movable toward the central axis thereof whereby to exert a strutting action against forces tending towithdraw the end of the conductor from the end of the connector and a plurality of elongated arms extending generally transversely to the said base from points adjacent the erige thereof and adapted to clampingly accommodate therebetween the insulated end of said electric cable for retaining the plug connector in position thereon.

the invention, what is to be secured by CARL G. OLSON its attendant' 

